Bristol West vs. Esurance: Which Company is the Best Fit for You?

Quick Facts

• Looking at the national averages for car insurance, Esurance offers significantly more affordable prices than Bristol West
• Esurance tends to be a much less expensive option for policyholders who have a short commute
• Esurance offers cheaper average rates for policyholders who are looking to purchase insurance with a spouse

Bristol West or Esurance: Which Company has the Cheapest Car Insurance?

Are you considering a new insurance policy? With so many ads from all sorts of companies offering pretty big savings, you're probably wondering exactly how much you might be able to save.

You might have narrowed it down to Bristol West or Esurance as potential options, but between the two, which one has more affordable premiums for auto insurance?

Looking at nationwide averages, Bristol West is quite a bit more expensive than Esurance, with rates averaging $412 a month compared to just $299 with Esurance.

Even so, Esurance may not be the most affordable or best option for every driver out there. After all, car insurance carriers can offer drastically different rates to every driver depending on rating factors like where you call home, your credit score, your age, or even your driving record (among other things). So, at the end of the day, prices from each carrier will differ quite a bit from person to person.

Luckily, we've broken down average rates from both Bristol West and Esurance by many different rate factors, so read on to find out which company is the best for you.

Bristol West vs. Esurance: Average Car Insurance Rates by State

Bristol West and Esurance only compete against each other in one states, with Esurance offering less expensive prices to the average driver in all of them. California has the most noticable difference, where Esurance premiums are $41 cheaper than insurance rates at Bristol West.

That being said, there's a lot more that goes into your car insurance payment than just where you live. Keep reading to find out more.

Which is the Best Company For Young Drivers?

You might already know that teen drivers generally pay a lot more for insurance than any group on the road. That's because teen drivers are statistically much more likely to get into an accident that results in an auto insurance claim, making them much riskier to insure.

But still, even with seemingly sky-high prices, teen drivers can still find ways to save money. For example, 18-year-old drivers pay an average of almost 10% less per month by choosing Esurance over Bristol West.

But both companies will reduce premiums by the time drivers turn 25. For example, average prices for Bristol West policyholders drop around $450 and Esurance's premiums decrease nearly $500 over that time.

Which is the Best Company for Retired Drivers?

Once you approach retirement age, you'll usually enjoy the lowest auto insurance rates out there. You've been on the road for years, and all that experience pays off when it comes to your monthly prices for car insurance.

But who has the best premiums for retired drivers between Bristol West and Esurance? Esurance gets the edge, with rates for drivers 65 and older over 35% more affordable than the national average for Bristol West.

Which is the Best Company for Married Drivers?

You may not be aware, but insurance premiums tend to be less expensive for married couples than they are for single policyholders. That's normally because married drivers tend to own and insure several vehicles, which can often earn you a discount.

For those who are single, the difference in average prices between these two carriers is significant, with Esurance rates coming in at a quarter less than Bristol West's. The advantage is also clear for married policyholders - Esurance offers the most affordable average premiums.

Bristol West or Esurance: Average Rates by Gender

You may not know, but auto insurance is typically more expensive for men than for women. That's because women are less likely to get tickets and get into accidents, which lowers the chances of filing a claim with insurance.

Surprisingly, with Bristol West, women normallypay about 0% more a month than men, and around 7% less with Esurance.

Looking at overall affordability, Esurance offers the lowest average prices for both men and women. On average, women save about $124 per month and men save about $102 with Esurance compared to the average Bristol West policyholder.

Bristol West vs. Esurance: Compare State Minimum vs. Full Coverage Rates

*State minimum value indicates liability-only policies at each state's minimum bodily injury and property damage (BI/PD) limits

**Full coverage indicates state minimum BI/PD limits with collision and comprehensive coverages added to policy.

For most people, insurance isn't the easiest topic to understand. There are so many different limits and coverages that it can make it pretty confusing to find the right policy for you.

The two most common policies that drivers look at fall into two categories -- liability coverage (which covers the other party's injuries and property damage if you cause a collision) and full coverage (which typically refers to having collision and comprehensive coverages alongside what you get with a liability policy).

Looking specifically at state minimum liability limits, Esurance has the significant edge, with average monthly rates coming in at $201. If you want a full coverage policy with the same state minimum limits, Esurance again has the edge, with policies averaging around $396 a month to Bristol West's $544.

Is Bristol West or Esurance Better for Drivers with Spotty Records?

You've probably seen plenty of commercials from auto insurance companies offering great premiums for good drivers, but that doesn't mean people with less-than-perfect driving records can't save money, too.

It's no secret secret that at-fault collisions and speeding tickets lead to higher prices, but which carrier -- Bristol West or Esurance -- has the cheapest rates for drivers with less-than-perfect records?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Speeding Tickets?

Policyholders who use Bristol West for their car insurance can usually expect their monthly bill to go up about 23% after getting a speeding ticket. Esurance policyholders can expect a less drastic increase of around 16%.

That being said, Esurance has cheaper premiums for drivers in both categories, offering rates that are 29% and 35% more affordable, respectively, compared to Bristol West.

Which Company is Best for Drivers After an Accident?

Bristol West drivers who get in an accident can expect to see their prices rise by just under 30%, while those who have insurance through Esurance will see about a 35% increase.

At the end of the day, Esurance offers the most affordable rates for drivers with an at-fault collision on their records, with average prices coming in at $364 compared to Bristol West's $479.

Which Company is Best for Drivers with a DUI?

If you get a DUI charge, you can expect some pretty significant increases in your monthly insurance bill -- generally a lot more than a collision or ticket. For example, Esurance increases average premiums by nearly $60 per month -- that's nearly a 20% increase.

How does Credit Score Impact Bristol West and Esurance Rates?

Did you know many auto insurance carriers take into account your credit score when determining rates? Certain states and companies do not allow for credit score to be used as an insurance factor, but it will come into play for a lot of policyholders.

The reasoning car insurance carriers use is that drivers with bad credit will be less likely to pay their bills on time; so normally, they'll be asked to pay more, while those with good credit will be rewarded with cheaper prices.

So, which company offers the lowest premiums for policyholders with good, average, or poor credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Good Credit?

Which Company is Best for Drivers with Bad Credit?

Is Bristol West or Esurance Better for Drivers who Work from Home or Have Short Commutes?

The amount of time you spend behind the wheel of your car plays a big role in how much auto insurance companies will charge for coverage. Usually, the more milage you put on your car, the more you can expect to pay for insurance.

For both remote workers and those taking short commutes, Esurance tends to be the less expensive option. Esurance's average prices for drivers with 6,000 annual miles come in around 27% cheaper than Bristol West. Those who drive 12,000 miles every year can expect to pay about 28% less with Esurance over Bristol West.

Bristol West or Esurance: Compare Rates for Urban, Suburban, and Rural Drivers

Where you live can play a big role in how much you pay for car insurance. Typically, those who live in urban areas will pay more than drivers in rural areas since there are a lot more vehicles on the road where they live, which increases the chances of an accident.

Esurance boasts the lowest average rates for drivers in every type of area, no matter if it's urban, suburban, or rural.

For drivers in urban ZIP codes, Esurance's average prices are around $396 while Bristol West offers premiums about $539. People in suburban areas pay a monthly rate of around $288 with Esurance compared to $386 with Bristol West. Those in rural areas can expect to pay about $211 a month with Esurance compared to Bristol West's $309.

Bristol West vs. Esurance Discounts

No matter why you might be in the market for a new auto insurance policy, you're always going to want to save as much money as you can, and the best way to do that is by taking advantage of as many insurance discounts as possible.

But with what seems like a million different discounts out there, it can be hard to nail down the company that has the most discounts for your unique driver profile and to find all the discounts you're eligible for.

Luckily, we did the hard work for you and broke down all of the different discounts offered by both Bristol West and Esurance so that you can see which carrier offers the most discounts and see which ones you might be able to take advantage of.

Esurance knocks Bristol West out of the park when it comes to the sheer number of discounts available, offering six more discounts than Bristol West.

A couple of those are overlapping for things like advance quote discounts, discounts for being a defensive driver, discounts for being a good driver, and multi-policy discounts. Esurance also offers discounts for agency transfer, DRL, education, and more.

On the other hand, Bristol West has a few proprietary discounts of their own for things like continuous insurance discounts, distant student discounts, EFT discounts, and more.

Final Thoughts: Is Bristol West or Esurance Best for You?

So, you've seen how different variables can affect your car insurance rates. We've shown you all the discounts each carrier offers, too. That's all well and good, but at the end of the day, is Bristol West or Esurance the right company for you and your specific needs?

Esurance might be best for you if....

• You haven't received any speeding tickets or been in an accident in the last few years.
• You want the most robust protection via a "full coverage" policy.
• You're of retirement age and want to take advantage of lower premiums.

Bristol West might be best for you if...

• You have a more unique driver profile than those we mentioned above.

Hopefully, this guide helps you get a better idea of the difference between Bristol West and Esurance. We also hope we've given you the information you need to make the best decision when it comes to your auto insurance.

At the end of the day, the sure-fire way to make sure you're getting the best deal on your insurance policy is to compare quotes from multiple carriers, not just Bristol West and Esurance. Luckily, sites like Compare.com make it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code below and get free quotes from dozens of top car insurance companies in your area, all in just a few minutes.

Bristol West vs. Esurance FAQs

Is Bristol West or Esurance cheaper?

Esurance is the less expensive of the two carriers when looking at national average prices, with policies averaging $299 a month with Esurance and $412 for Bristol West. However, that doesn't mean Esurance will be the most affordable company for everyone, since there are multiple different factors (things like gender, age, driving record, etc.) that play a role in how much you pay.

Who is better, Bristol West or Esurance?

Unfortunately, the answer truly is "it depends.". Neither carrier is "better" for everyone -- it all boils down to your unique auto insurance profile.

Why do Bristol West and Esurance offer me different rates?

Car insurance companies use quite a few different variables when calculating the rates they charge. Factors such as your driving record, gender, age, where your home is, and sometimes even things like your credit score can all be taken into consideration. Both Bristol West and Esurance calculate premiums differently, so it's likely they'll offer different prices. The best way to determine which company is the cheapest for you is by comparing personalized quotes from a range of different carriers.

How do I know if Bristol West or Esurance is right for me?

The only way to find the insurance carrier that's right for you is by getting quotes from several companies and finding the one best suited for your individual budget. Luckily, Compare.com makes it easy for you to do just that. Just enter your ZIP code and you'll get quotes from dozens of your local top car insurance carriers for free. With those, you can guarantee you're getting the lowest price. And maybe you'll find that the best company for you isn't Bristol West or Esurance at all, but another you hadn't even thought of!

Methodology

All of the data referenced in this article has been gathered in collaboration with Quadrant Information Services. We analyzed more than 2.5 million rows of carrier-reported data to calculate the average rates referenced above. All rates are based on an insurance profile of a single-vehicle policy for a driver that owns a 2016 Honda Accord. For more information on how we calculate rates, please reference our data methodology.